x Gasteraloe plant named ‘D Delta’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of x Gasteraloe plant named ‘D Delta’ that is characterized by green leaves with green-white orbicular dots, leaf margins with white teeth and a star shaped basal rosette plant shape.

Botanical classification: x Gasteraloe hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘D Delta’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of xGasteraloe plant botanically known as x Gasteraloe hybrid andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘D Delta’.

‘D Delta’ originated from the crossing of the female or seed parent, anunnamed Aloe aristata cultivar with the male or pollen parent, anunnamed Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa cultivar. The crossing wasconducted in 2013 in a greenhouse environment of Amposta, Tarragona,Spain. The resulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown in agreenhouse environment. The cultivar ‘D Delta’ was selected by theinventor in 2014 as a single plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a cultivated area of Amposta, Tarragona, Spain.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘D Delta’ first occurred byleaf cuttings in 2015 in Amposta, Tarragona, Spain. Since that time,under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new xGasteraloe cultivar ‘D Delta’. These traits in combination distinguish‘D Delta’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingvarieties of x Gasteraloe known by the inventor.

-   1. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits green leaves with green-white    orbicular dots.-   2. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits leaf margins with white teeth.-   3. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits a star shaped basal rosette plant    shape.

The closest comparison cultivars are Gasteria ‘WT10’ (U.S. plant Pat.No. 23,622) and plants of the species Gasteraloe beguini. ‘D Delta’ isdistinguishable from ‘WT10’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits darker green leaves than the        leaves of ‘WT10’.    -   2. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits orbicular leaf dots that are        more intense or brighter green-white in color than the leaf dots        of ‘WT10’.    -   3. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits several plantlets at the base        of mature plants. In contrast ‘WT10’ does not develop plantlets.

‘D Delta’ is distinguishable from plants of the species Gasteraloebeguinii by the following characteristics:

-   1. Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits darker green leaves than the leaves    of plants of the species Gasteraloe beguinii.-   2. Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits shorter and wider leaves than the    leaves of plants of the species Gasteraloe beguinii.-   3. Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits leaves having smaller orbicular    dots than the dots on leaves of plants of the species Gasteraloe    beguinii.-   4. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits a smaller overall size than    plants of the species Gasteraloe beguinii. Plants of the species    Gasteraloe beguinii are larger in both height and width.

‘D Delta’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant, by thefollowing characteristics:

-   1. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits a smaller number of leaves than    the number of leaves of the female parent plant.-   2. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits a flatter overall plant shape    than the female parent plant. In contrast, the plant shape of the    female parent plant is more erect.-   3. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits leaves that have orbicular dots    that are smaller in size than the dots on leaves of the female    parent plant.-   4. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits leaf margins with smaller teeth    than the teeth of leaf margins of the female parent plant.

‘D Delta’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant by the followingcharacteristics:

-   1. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits a smaller number of leaves than    the number of leaves of the male parent plant.-   2. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits shorter leaves than the leaves of    the male parent plant.-   3. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits leaves that have fewer orbicular    dots than the leaves of the male parent plant.-   4. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits leaf margins with small teeth. In    contrast, the leaf margins of the male parent plant have no teeth.-   5. x Gasteraloe ‘D Delta’ exhibits a star shaped basal rosette plant    shape. In contrast, the male parent plant does not have a rosette    plant shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits of xGasteraloe ‘D Delta’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 24 weekold plant.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance,it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new x Gasteraloe cultivarnamed ‘D Delta’. Data was collected in Amposta, Tarragona, Spain from 24week old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 8.5 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was spring and the temperature range was18-26 degrees Centigrade during the day and 11-21 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘D Delta’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

-   Botanical classification: x Gasteraloe hybrid ‘D Delta’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘D Delta’ is a hybrid of the female parent, an unnamed    Aloe aristata cultivar and the male parent, an unnamed Gasteria    carinata var. verrucosa cultivar.-   Plant type: Potted plant.-   Growth habit: Basal rosette, freely producing secondary rosettes.-   Plant shape: Flattened globe shaped.-   Suitable container size: 5.5 cm pots and larger.-   Plant height: Average 10.2 cm.-   Plant width: Average 11.5 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Low temperature tolerance: 10° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 35° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 19 days at 22° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 30 days at 22° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 33 weeks at 22° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (winter): 40 weeks at 20° C.-   Growth rate: Low to moderate.-   Crop time: Approximately 52 weeks.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Branching habit: Leaves arise in single main basal rosette, freely    producing secondary rosettes or plantlets, average of 12 secondary    rosettes.-   Pinching: Not required.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Basal rosette.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Average 18.        -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate, succulent.        -   Leaf aspect.—Flattened.        -   Leaf apex.—Long apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—10.3 cm. in length, 2.3 cm. in width and            0.9 cm. in thickness.        -   Leaf texture upper surface.—Pustulate, moderately covered            with small orbicular raised dots 1.5 mm. in diameter and            1.5 mm. in height, color varies between 148D and 157A.        -   Leaf texture lower surface.—Pustulate, moderately covered            with small orbicular raised dots 1.0 mm. in diameter and            1.5 mm. in height, color varies between 157C and 157D.        -   Leaf luster (both surfaces).—Moderately glossy.        -   Leaf rugose (both surfaces).—Not rugose.        -   Pubescence (both surfaces).—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Finely serrate teeth, teeth 1.0 mm. in length,            color N155A.        -   Venation pattern.—None visible.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—In between 139A and 147A,            toward base 146D.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—In between 139A and 147A,            toward base 146D.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—In between 147A and            N189A, toward base 148B.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—In between 139A and 147A,            toward base 147B to 147C.-   Flower: ‘D Delta’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘D Delta’ has not produced fruit or seed to date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of x Gasteraloeplant named ‘D Delta’ as described and illustrated.